Workshop appeals for creation of more electoral areas

Wamfie (B/A) July 22, GNA - Participants at a workshop at Wamfie in Dormaa District of Brong Ahafo have appealed for the creation of additional electoral areas to lessen the burden of work on unit committees and Assembly Members.

They said since their creation in 1992, the electoral areas had expanded in size and population, making them large enough to be divided to promote efficiency in administration and development. The workshop was one of five in a series organised by German-Technical Co-operation (GTZ) for 125 civil society representatives from the 15 urban, town and area councils in the district.

It was designed to deepen the participants' awareness in processes and input requirements towards a comprehensive Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the district.

The participants stressed that the functions of unit committees and the Assembly Members were primarily sacrificial, hence there was the need to make their areas of operation small enough to enhance easy accessibility and management.

Opening one of the workshops at Dormaa Ahenkro, Squadron Leader Benjamin Anane-Asamoah (rtd) lauded the country for assuming the front role in grassroots participatory democracy.

He commended the GTZ and other groups and agencies helping to create the necessary awareness to spur the country on towards the achievement of the Millennium Development goals by the year 2015. The DCE emphasised that the government's total commitment to good governance and tolerance of divergent views was founded on the premise that development could only thrive in peace and tranquillity. "Active participation of people in matters affecting their lives depends on their understanding of policies, concepts and roles expected of them and the short and long term benefits they stand to derive from programmes and projects", he added.

Squadron Leader Anane-Asamoah expressed the hope that civil society groups in the district would contribute their quota towards a medium term development plan that would encompass the development aspirations of the people and provide the platform for a boost to living standards in the country.

Madam Ruby Osman, GTZ facilitator for Jaman North and Dormaa districts said the German NGO aimed at building the capacity of civil society organisations on pertinent national issues including HIV/AIDS, gender issues, media advocacy and surveys on the overall trend of Ghana's socio-economic advancement or otherwise. She noted that drastic changes in women's perception about national issues and society's readiness to accord them due recognition in all spheres of human endeavour could pave the way for their increased and sustained participation.

Mr Evans Mensah, a resource person took the participants through the local government decentralisation process with particular reference to the unit committees, urban, town and area councils and District Assembly structures.

He explained that power at the District Assembly was vested in the Assembly and not in the District Chief Executive, so it was wrong for people to put unnecessary pressure on the DCE for the solution of their personal and official problems.

Mr Haruna Abdulai, district development planning officer, explained the concept and structures of the medium term development plan and the participants proposed and discussed areas they could make inputs.